UK car sales slump slows

LONDON, Mar 4 (BBC): The drop in new car sales since the end of the scrappage scheme slowed markedly in February, figures have shown. New registrations of 63,424 were down 7.7 per cent versus a year ago, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Sales have fallen for eight months, but February's rate was the lowest, and was better than the SMMT had expected. The industry group cited 8.6 per cent rise in purchases for company car fleets for the relative improvement. The scrappage scheme accounted for almost 20 per cent of February sales a year ago, according to the SMMT's data.